MacBreak Weekly 1005: "Best of 2025"

Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte
Guests: Alex Lindsay, Jason Snell, Andy Ihnatko, others

Overview

This year-end "Best of 2025" edition of MacBreak Weekly brings together host Leo Laporte and long-time panelists to reflect on major Apple news and debates from the past year. The episode is part celebration, part nostalgia, with a strong current of farewell as founding panelist Alex Lindsay prepares to leave the show for a new role at Apple. Key discussions include Apple's shifting iPhone lineup, the rumored discontinuation of the SE model, technical deep-dives into new hardware, amusing tangents on product design, and heartfelt recollections of nearly two decades on the podcast.

Major Topics & Key Insights

1. Apple's iPhone Strategy for 2025

• Discontinuation of the iPhone SE and Introduction of the 16e
  • Apple ends its budget iPhone segment, shifting attention to the 16e as the new entry point.
  • The 16e debuts at $600, significantly higher than the outgoing SE.
  • Panelists debated Apple's motives, the impact of inflation, and implications for users in developing markets.
  • Quote:
    “It’s a damn shame, but it’s okay that Apple is no longer making a budget phone. The 16e is definitely just simply the least expensive iPhone in the lineup.” —Andy Ihnatko (02:11–02:41)
• Components & Chip Binning
  • Discussion on Apple leveraging “binned” A18 chips—lower performing chips that didn’t make the Pro cut—for the 16e.
  • Jason Snell points out Apple’s long-term silicon allocation strategy across iPhone, Apple TV, and iPad lines (09:28).
• Price Spread and Global Market Impact
  • Apple is less concerned with offering truly low-cost iPhones; the new lineup covers a spread from $599–$999+.
  • “…They don't sell a $420 phone is not really what Apple's entire game is.” —Jason Snell (05:35)
  • The 16e’s positioning in markets like China was analyzed, where Apple must compete with capable midrange devices from local brands (06:03–06:42).

2. Design Evolution and Feature Discussion

• Transition Away from Home Button and Lightning
  • 2025 marks the first time no new iPhone includes a home button or Lightning port; all are Face ID and USB-C, respectively (11:01–11:53).
  • Nostalgic moments as panelists admit their preference for Touch ID and the familiar home button experience.
• Colors and Aesthetics
  • The 16e comes in just black and white, contrasting with the wider palette of pricier models.
  • “Any color you want, as long as it's black or white.” —Leo Laporte (13:01)
  • Dialogue on the psychology of color choices and Apple’s minimalist approach for entry models.

3. Legal and Privacy Wins

• Apple and End-to-End Encryption in the UK

  • Major legal victory: Secret UK court rules in favor of Apple maintaining end-to-end encryption; details of the government's request are now public (17:01–19:16).
  • Andy Ihnatko reads directly from the judgment, highlighting open justice and wide opposition to government decryption demands.
  • Notable quote: “Open justice is a very, very important principle, and you have not demonstrated the harm that will happen if this has happened openly.” —Andy Ihnatko paraphrasing the judgement (19:16)

• Apple’s Data Detectors Mishap

  • Amusing recounting of how a glitch in Apple’s data detectors system led to a journalist accidentally being added to a government Signal group discussing sensitive topics (20:12–22:26).
  • “Oh, come on, you’re blaming the iPhones? …That’s happened to me like 11 times.” —Andy Ihnatko (20:38)

4. Apple Services - The "Snapshot" Site

• Apple Launches Celebrity Snapshot
  • New marketing microsite (snapshot.apple.com) shows Apple-related content by celebrity.
  • Panelists lampoon the slow, "conveyor belt sushi" UI and lack of search/organization.
  • “If you don’t like Seth Rogen, you gotta spend 18 seconds thinking about how much you don’t like Seth Rogen.” —Andy Ihnatko (25:21)
  • General consensus: useful concept, annoying presentation.

5. iPhone Air, Plateau Camera Bump, and Hardware Advances

• Introduction of the iPhone Air
  • The show discusses Apple's new slim model, the “Air”, featuring a new, highly prominent “plateau” camera bump, A19 Pro chip, and magnesium-titanium construction (29:49–32:29).
  • Apple’s marketing is targeting the Air as a thinner, not “lesser,” flagship.
  • “This is not a lesser version… this is a smaller, thinner version of the iPhone. You’re going to get… the fastest CPU in every smartphone, more durable than any previous iPhone…” —Andy Ihnatko (31:32)
  • Faster charging, improved battery management, and move to eSIM-only highlighted.
  • Bumper case makes a comeback for the Air model.
• Battery and Chipset Discussion
  • Detailed comparison of battery life and processor/GPU differences across models (43:26).
  • New dynamic power adapter offers 40W/60W fast charging up to 80% before slowing down to protect battery health (43:44–44:35).

6. Farewell to Alex Lindsay & Panel Reflections

• Alex Lindsay's Departure for Apple
  • Alex announces he’s joining Apple as Partnership Manager for 3D Ecosystem, leaving both MacBreak Weekly and his other ventures.
  • Leo Laporte and the crew share stories, express appreciation, and reflect on his impact:
    • “You were the founding member of MacBreak. You created the show.” —Leo Laporte (58:49)
    • “I can’t believe we went 19 years.” —Alex Lindsay (59:16)
  • Alex discusses Office Hours and his other projects, including live stereoscopic 3D streaming in theaters (56:52–57:52).
  • Leo reassures listeners about the show’s future and ongoing search for new contributors (58:42).
  • “Now you're going to rock and roll heaven… congratulations…” —Leo Laporte (64:38)
• Light-hearted and Emotional Moments
  • Cake and birthday balloons for the show’s 1,000th episode (47:53–51:54).
  • Amusing Mac-oriented banter about product nostalgia, design quirks, and in-jokes about the panelists' longevity and workplace habits.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Apple’s Pricing Shift:
  “These are the phones that Apple sells are the phones that are in this class, and they don’t sell a $420 phone is not really what Apple's entire game is.” –Jason Snell (05:44)
• On Device Repairs:
  “Buy a new one. You don't repair it. You don't fix it. You just consume it.” —Andy Ihnatko (44:55)
• On the End of Budget iPhones:
  “There's no cheap iPhone anymore.” —Leo Laporte (10:32)
• On Product Colors:
  “You want color, you gotta pay, buddy.” —Jason Snell (12:46)
• On Nostalgia and Milestones:
  “How did we get to a thousand? It's because of you guys, I'll be honest.” —Leo Laporte (52:15)
• On Saying Goodbye:
  “Now you’re going to be with all of our friends. So congratulations to Alex and… Stay tuned… It’s been such an important part of the show…” —Leo Laporte (64:38-64:48)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• iPhone 16e and Loss of Budget Segment: 01:46–13:20
• End of Home Button and Lightning Port: 11:01–11:53
• UK Encryption Court Case: 17:01–20:12
• Data Detectors Mishap: 20:12–22:44
• Apple Snapshot Site Critique: 24:06–29:23
• iPhone Air & Hardware Review: 29:49–47:53
• Farewell to Alex Lindsay & Show Reflections: 47:53–66:48

Tone & Style

The conversation is classic MacBreak: casual, witty, deeply knowledgeable, and at times irreverent. Banter about product quirks, longstanding Apple debates, and fond memories of the show's history are interwoven with earnest, technical evaluations and genuine emotional moments, especially surrounding Alex Lindsay's departure.

Takeaways

• Apple’s product strategy is moving upmarket, with entry-level devices now decidedly mid-tier in price and sophistication.
• Panelists remain critical yet affectionate toward Apple’s design and ecosystem choices, balancing applause for technological leaps with nostalgia for the past (home button, Touch ID, Lightning).
• The MacBreak Weekly community is a pillar of longevity in tech podcasting, evidenced by heartfelt reminiscing and thoughtful goodbyes.
• Alex Lindsay’s departure marks the end of an era, but the show will continue, seeking new voices to carry the torch into 2026.

Final words from Leo Laporte:
“I’m looking forward to a really interesting 2026. ... We will see you in 2026. Happy New Year to the entire MacBreak family, from all of us to all of you and yours. And now it is my sad and solemn duty as always to tell you to get back to work.”

Happy New Year from the entire MacBreak Weekly team!